PARIS, France – Scientists on Friday, March 2, unveiled a revised classification for diabetes, one they said could lead to better treatments and help doctors more accurately predict life-threatening complications from the disease.

There are 5 distinct types of diabetes that can occur in adulthood, rather than the two currently recognized, they reported in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, a leading medical journal.

The findings are consistent with the growing trend toward "precision medicine," which takes into account differences between individuals in managing disease.

In the same way that a patient requiring a transfusion must receive the right blood type, diabetes sub-types need different treatments, the study suggested.

Similarly, scientists have also identified distinct kinds of microbiome – the bacterial ecosystem in our digestive tract – that can react differently to the same medication, rendering it more or less effective.

"This is the first step towards personalized treatment of diabetes," said senior author Leif Groop, an endocrinologist at Lund University in Sweden, adding that the new classification is a "paradigm shift" in how the disease is viewed.

People with diabetes have excessively high blood glucose, or blood sugar, which comes from food.

Some 420 million people around the world today suffer from diabetes, with the number expected to rise to 629 million by 2045, according to the International Diabetes Federation.

Currently, the disease is divided into two sub-types.

With type-1 – generally diagnosed in childhood and accounting for about 10% of cases – the body simply doesn't make insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels.

For type-2, the body makes some insulin but not enough, which means glucose stays in the blood.

This form of the disease correlates highly with obesity and can, over time, lead to blindness, kidney damage, and heart disease or stroke. Acute cases may also require limb amputations.

'Exceeded expectations'

It has long been known that type-2 diabetes is highly variable, but classification has remained unchanged for decades.

For the study, researchers monitored 13,270 newly diagnosed diabetes patients ranging in age from 18 to 97.

By isolating measurements of insulin resistance, insulin secretion, blood sugar levels, age, and the onset of illness, they distinguished 5 distinct clusters of the disease – 3 serious and two milder forms.

Among the severe types, a group of patients with insulin resistance – in which cells are unable to use insulin effectively – was at far higher risk of kidney disease.

"This group has the most to gain from the new diagnostics as they are the ones who are currently most incorrectly treated," Groop said.

Another group facing serious complications was composed of relatively young, insulin-deficient patients.

The 3rd "severe" group were people with auto-immune diabetes corresponding to the original "type-1" diagnosis.

The two other groups have milder types of the disease including one, which includes about 40% of the patients, beset with a form of diabetes related to advanced age.

"This will enable earlier treatment to prevent complications in patients who are most at risk of being affected," said lead author Emma Ahlqvist, an associate professor at Lund University.

The results were checked against 3 other studies from Sweden and Finland.

"The outcome exceeded our expectations," said Groop.

The researchers plan to launch similar studies in China and India. – Rappler.com

MELBOURNE, Australia – Prosecutors Friday, March 2, withdrew one of multiple historical sexual offense charges against Vatican finance chief Cardinal George Pell ahead of his committal hearing next week.

The 76-year-old, a top adviser to Pope Francis, has taken leave to fight the allegations which relate to incidents that allegedly occurred long ago.

The exact details and nature of the accusations have not been made public, other than they involve "multiple complainants".

A preliminary hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday was told that one charge would be withdrawn. The Melbourne Herald Sun said it was because the accuser had died.

Pell, who denies all the claims, faces a crucial 4-week hearing starting in Melbourne on Monday, March 5, to determine if he stands trial.

Up to 50 witnesses could be called, with the hearing closed to the media and public for up to two weeks while their accounts are given.

The magistrate will then decide if there is sufficient evidence for the case to go ahead.

Pell, a former Sydney and Melbourne archbishop who is the highest-ranking Catholic official to be charged with historical sex offenses, has so far appeared twice in court for preliminary hearings – in July and October last year.

He has not had to enter a plea, although he instructed his lawyer from the outset to make clear he intended to plead not guilty. – Rappler.com

WASHINGTON DC, USA – The United States on Thursday, March 1, accused Moscow of openly breaching Cold War-era treaties by developing what Russian President Vladimir Putin called a new generation of "invincible" hypersonic weapons and submarines.

Putin unveiled the new arsenal earlier Thursday in a state of the nation address, challenging Washington to a new arms race ahead of a presidential election that will all but certainly confirm his grip on power.

Putin left his usual Kremlin perch to this year speak from a nearby exhibition center – allowing him to show a series of video montages of missiles crossing mountains and oceans, heading over the Atlantic before striking the US eastern seaboard.

He quoted a speech he gave in 2004, vowing that Russia would develop a new generation of weaponry, a promise that he said he has now fulfilled.

"No one really wanted to talk to us basically. No one listened to us then. Listen to us now," Putin said, prompting a standing ovation from the audience of top officials, lawmakers and celebrities.

He presented Russia's military efforts as a response to recent actions by the United States, which last month unveiled plans to revamp its own nuclear arsenal and develop new low-yield atomic weapons.

'Cheesy' attack video

The State Department expressed outrage at Putin's presentation and his "cheesy" animated video of warheads over US soil – and said the Russian leader had confirmed long-held allegations about his program.

"It was certainly unfortunate to have watched the video animation that depicted a nuclear attack on the United States," spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters.

"That's something that we certainly didn't enjoy watching. We don't regard that as the behavior of a responsible international player," she added.

"President Putin has confirmed what the United States government has known for a long time but that Russia has denied prior to this," she added.

"Russia has been developing destabilizing weapons systems for more than a decade in direct violation of its treaty obligations."

Specifically, Nauert said that Moscow had proven itself in violation of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), through its development of ground-launched cruise missiles.

The Pentagon reacted with more equanimity, with a spokesman insisting that the US military remains "fully prepared" to react to "anything that comes our way."

The United States has long accused Russia of breaching the INF treaty and, while it is modernizing its own nuclear arsenal, says that it remains in compliance with the terms of the Cold War accord.

The spat came as relations between the powers lie frozen at levels not seen since the Cold War over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria and accusations that Moscow interfered in the US presidential election in 2016.

Also Thursday, the US formally approved the sale of Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, which is fighting a Russian-backed insurgency in the east of the country.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Ukraine has asked President Donald Trump's US administration for permission to buy 210 missiles and 37 launchers at a cost of around $47 million

'Fantastic' submarines

In a speech that ran almost two hours, Putin showed tests of a new missile system that he said could fly at 20 times the speed of sound and maneuver up and down, and is not owned by any other country.

"This makes it absolutely invincible for any forms of air and missile defense," he boasted, calling it an "ideal weapon."

Russia has also developed unmanned underwater devices that move much faster than submarines and torpedoes and can carry nuclear warheads, Putin said, adding: "It's just fantastic!"

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu later said Russian arms would be able to "overcome all existing anti-missile systems" such as those the US intends to deploy in eastern Europe and South Korea.

"This anti-missile 'umbrella' turns out to be a bit 'leaky'," he said in comments released by his ministry.

Putin, who has led Russia for almost two decades and is seeking in the March 18 election a historic 4th Kremlin term that would extend his rule to 2024, also laid out a number of domestic measures in the speech.

Putin has refused to take part in TV debates with other candidates, but the address suggested cutting poverty and improving the environment would be among the top goals of his expected new 6-year term.

'Unacceptable' poverty

The 65-year-old vowed to cut the country's "unacceptable" poverty rate in half over 6 years, but said 22 million fewer Russians were now living below the poverty line than when he was first elected president.

Putin, who coughed throughout the speech and was forced to pause to drink, was given an ecstatic reception in the hall during the televised address but some online comments were less complimentary.

"The old man only perked up when he was talking about how he can destroy the world. A moment of truth!" former Kremlin advisor Gleb Pavlovsky said on social media.

Despite Putin's campaign promises when he returned to the Kremlin in 2012 after 4 years as prime minister, his last term was marked by a fall in living standards and Russia's international isolation.

Boosted by a slavish media and foreign military adventures such as the annexation of Crimea in 2014, his approval rating remains sky-high and official polls suggest he will take almost 70% of the vote on March 18. – Rappler.com

BANGKOK, Thailand (UPDATED) – Nearly 40 new Thai political parties submitted names and logos on the opening day of party registration in Bangkok on Friday, March 2, an early step in the junta-ruled kingdom's halting return to democracy.

Thailand has been under army rule since a 2014 putsch toppled an elected government and installed the country's most autocratic regime in a generation.

The generals have banned all political activity and repeatedly postponed a promised return to democracy.

Yet this week the junta chief vowed polls would be held no later than February 2019.

In a rare opening for political activity and an early sign of enthusiasm for the vote, dozens of new parties applied for registration at the Election Commission (EC) on Friday, under names like "Siam Democrat Party" and "Thai Unity Party".

"There are 38 groups who have submitted the applications for party registration," an election official told Agence France-Presse.

Many were political novices with backgrounds in business, civil society or academia, plus several farmers from the rural north and south.

A YouTube celebrity was also among the crowd, while one group wore T-shirts with the faces of Thailand's most bitter political rivals arranged in a heart shape above the word "reconciliation".

Registration will be open until the end of the month and election authorities have 30 days to approve or reject the bids.

Yet the junta has refused to fully lift its ban on political activity, preventing any further organizing or campaigning.

Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said parties must seek the junta's permission before holding any meetings.

"They can announce who they support to become the next premier, but they cannot announce their policy platform," he added.

Hamstrung democracy

Thailand's caustic political scene has been dominated for over a decade by two main factions: the Democrat Party and various incarnations of Pheu Thai – a populist movement headed by exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

With the backing of rural voters, Thaksin's parties have won every national election since 2001.

Yet their elected governments have been repeatedly knocked from power by protests, coups and court rulings favored by Bangkok's military-allied elite.

Analysts say the ruling junta is determined to curb Pheu Thai's influence in the next election and has rewritten a charter that hampers larger parties and shrinks the clout of elected politicians.

The new constitution replaces a once-elected senate with a fully appointed upper house that reserves several spots for military leaders.

It also includes a loophole that would allow parliament to install an unelected premier – an arrangement observers say junta chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha is gunning for.

At least one new party registered on Friday openly pledged to back that move.

"Our party supports a non-MP for Prime Minister but if Prayut joins a political party we will reconsider," Thanapat Sukkasem, who registered the "Thai People Reform Party", told local media. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Lawmakers should pass an anti-political dynasty law first before they pursue amendments to the Constitution to pave the way fo federalism,  Vice President Leni Robredo said on Friday, March 2.

Why prioritize the anti-dynasty law: Robredo is worried legislators are now focused on charter change yet the 1987 Constitution’s anti-dynasty provision has not been implemented because there is no enabling law. 

The Vice President said this may pose more “dangers” for the Philippines, where provinces are ruled by political clans. (READ: Robredo: No need to overhaul Constitution)

“Bago mag-usap tungkol sa federalism, asikasuhin muna iyong political dynasties, kasi ano iyon, basic, in the sense na the 1987 Constitution requires that, iyong anti-political dynasty law. Pero hindi pa naipapasa,” the Vice President told CNN Philippines’ The Source aired on Friday.

(Before we even talk about federalism, let’s first focus on political dynasties because that is basic, in the sense that the 1987 Constitution requires an anti-political dynasty law. But the law has not been passed.) 

“Hindi pa iyon napapasa, pero papalitan na iyong Constitution. Parang sa akin, mas maraming danger na ipo-pose kaysa sa kabutihan na magagawa (The law has not been passed, but they want to change the Constitution already. For me, this will pose more dangers than benefits),” she added.

Why lawmakers have not passed the law: Article II Section 26 of the Constitution states: "The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law."    

But this provision has been properly implemented in the country. With 78% of Congress belonging to dynasties, lawmakers have been hesitant to pass a law that would fulfill this constitutional provision. 

Senators began consulting experts last month regarding the anti-dynasty bills that have been filed under the current 17th Congress.

A new class of clans will emerge: Robredo, who was Camarines Sur 3rd District representative before she became vice president, warned that federalism without and anti-dynasty law would strengthen political clans and cause “fiefdoms” to thrive in the country. 

“Kapag hindi nagpasa ng ganoon tapos nagkaroon tayo ng federal states, parang pinapalakas pa natin iyong [political clans]. Baka maging parang fiefdom siya,” said Robredo.

(If we do not pass a law like that and then we will have federal states, it's like we’re strengthening the political clans. They may turn into fiefdoms.)

The Vice President was not against the shift to federalism per se, but she said the administration should sufficiently explain why it believes charter change is necessary to empower other regions, since other measures can be taken without amending the 1987 Charter.

Robredo agreed power and wealth should be decentralized away from “Imperial Manila” but she said the answer may just lie in amending certain provisions of the existing Local Government Code.

“Constitutional amendment ba iyong kailangan? Hindi ba ito kaya na amendment sa Local Government Code? Sa akin, especially at a time like this, parang mahirap magkaroon ng  amendments to the Constitution. Kanino ba natin ititiwala iyong amendments?” asked the Vice President.  

(Do we really need a constitutional amendment? Don’t we really need an amendment in the Local Government Code? For me, especially at a time like this, it’s hard to make amendments to the Constitution. To whom do we entrust the amendments?)

She said that at this time, the Philippines is "very divided as a nation." The Vice President also said that constitutional amendments are "not something we can rush using political might," referring to the administration and the ruling PDP-Laban's bid to fast-track the process so that a plebiscite would be held this year or May 2019.

Responding to questions, Robredo she had nothing against dissolving the Office of the Vice President under a federal system of government, but she feared that human rights might become "diluted" as part of the constitutional amendments. – Rappler.com

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – Beleaguered Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is not resigning, this she made clear on Friday, March 2, in her first public appearance after being pressured unanimously by her colleagues in the Supreme Court to take an indefinite.

Speaking before students of the University of Baguio College of Law and lawyers from the Cordillera about judicial independence, Sereno brought the house down during the question-and-answer portion when she referred to those who were calling for her resignation: “Ano sila, sinusuwerte?” (They're pushing their luck too far.)

She later said that she doesn’t believe in luck, and that God is on her side in this battle.

Sereno, wearing a red blouse and a black pantsuit, delivered an almost-hour-long speech, mainly on judicial reforms she introduced as chief justice. She only spoke for about 15 minutes about what she called her “condition.”

“Allow me to make a call for everyone to respect the impeachment process by allowing it to take the only allowable force which is by the Constitution,” Sereno said.

“The House committee on justice finished its process. What happens next is critically important to our democracy. The only constitutional way allowed for handling the impeachment proceedings in the House is to vote on the question of probable cause in a timely manner and not drag it further, nor couple it with calls for extraconstitutional help, like facilitating the ouster of the Chief Justice or calling on the Supreme Court to do the job of the Senate,” she added.

“The House has to find some probable cause or not or else elevate it to the Senate. The proponents of the impeachment have bared their uncertainties and have been contradicting themselves, saying they have solid evidence while stridently calling for my resignation,” she said.

“If they were so sure of their evidence even to the point of perjuring baseless accusations, if they can prove that I have committed the hardest of sins against the people, why not bring it to the Senate?” she said, to the applause of her audience at the UB Gymnasium.

“Instead we have this additional injurious spectacle, including having members of the court and judicial system threatened with administrative and judicial cases. I ask only one thing: give me one day in the Senate impeachment court,” she said.

Sereno did not mention the recent act of her colleagues, and claimed that the Baguio judges are among the fairest of the lot. It was not clear if she was also referring to Baguio boy Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, who were among those who asked her to take an indefinite leave.

Read:
Why SC justices forced Sereno to go on leave
Sereno's indefinite leave a 'consensus' of SC en banc

But Sereno said she could only be removed from office through an impeachment process and not by an “internal action,” seemingly alluding to an en banc consensus of asking her to go on an indefinite leave. Her spokespersons have called this move extra-constitutional.

“I will not resign. No I will not. I will give an account of my actions as the Chief Justice to the people. I owe the people to tell my story. I am hopeful that after the impeachment trial, days of renewal for the Supreme Court can still be forged, united by the common desire to serve the people and protect the constitutional rights especially in these troubled times,” Sereno said.

“I remain steadfast in fighting for judicial independence. I have faith that in the end what some unpatriotic men and women have intended for evil in the form of my impeachment, God will turn into good,” she continued. – Rappler.com 

MANILA, Philippines – The Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) on Friday, March 2, said it was "misleading" to say that Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno had failed a psychological evaluation.

This was among the points that the PAP raised in its official statement on the "ethical and valid use of psychological assessments," which it issued in light of the recent hearings at the House justice committee on the impeachment complaint against Sereno.

What PAP's statement says: One of the points raised by the group is that statements saying Sereno "failed" the psychological evaluation "are misleading, as no one 'passes' or 'fails' a psychological assessment."

"Instead, a psychologist recommends a person to a position after the assessment indicates that he/she possesses the characteristics that fit the demands of the given position," PAP noted.

The group also clarified that:

1. The purpose of psychological assessment is to help understand a person's functioning in various aspects of life for informed decision-making or for treatment planning.
   
   PAP said that while psychological tests are developed and applied through scientific methods, "they are not perfectly accurate" and that "actual behaviors and performance are more valid than what psychological assessments may predict."
   
   
2. A psychological assessment is often conducted for a specific purpose, and should only be used for that purpose.
   
   In Sereno's case, PAP said using a psychological assessment conducted in 2012 for the House hearings "is a misuse of those results."
   
   
3. Good practices in psychological assessments entail the application of a combination of methods, such as interview, observation, standardized norm-referenced tests, and relevant informal tools.
   

   According to PAP, using only one or two of the said methods "is inadequate."

   "If a psychologist bases his or her assessment on only one of these methods, or from secondhand reports, then conclusions about 'mental disturbance' based on alleged symptoms that indicate such a condition are misleading, if not inaccurate," the group added.

The PAP maintained that in issuing the statement, they are neither supporting nor opposing any position regarding the issues involving Sereno. Instead, they only seek to "clarify the function of psychological assessments and the diagnosis of psychological conditions."

The context: On Tuesday, February 27, clinical psychologist Geraldine Tria stated categorically before House lawmakers that she would not have recommended Sereno for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court "based on the findings" and her assessment of Sereno's personality.

Tria based her evaluation and conclusion on 2012 and 2014 Manila Times articles, as well as the House deliberations, and had never interviewed or even interacted with Sereno.

Why it matters: The PAP said in its statement that its members "reject recent narratives that directly or indirectly use psychological assessments to stigmatize those with mental or psychological conditions."

"We condemn the unethical practice of using confidential psychological information for purposes of discrediting or damaging a person's character. Even if psychological test results become public documents, this does not grant permission for anybody to use it for any purpose other than its original intent," the group added.

For a full discussion on the issue, read Rappler's in-depth report on the use of Sereno's psychological report during the House impeachment hearings. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang, on Friday, March 2, elaborated on possible joint exploration to be undertaken by China and the Philippines through corporations.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque spoke of two areas in the West Philippine Sea being considered for the joint activity.

"From what I know, there are two areas being considerd for joint exploration, but all are within the EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone)," he said during a press conference in Paniqui, Tarlac.

The two joint exploration ventures are covered by Service Contracts 57 and 72.

"From what I know, Service Contract 57 is not affected by any dispute, so there can be joint exploration there because there is no dispute so we are just allowing it. The problem is, with 72, there is a dispute so the ttwo countries have to come into an agreement before joint exploration can push through," Roque explained.

He said the Philippines is still negotiating with China on the possible joint exploration ventures.

"There is still no decision," said Roque.

SC 57

Service Contract 57 is joint exploration to take place in offshore Calamian, northwest of Palawan, according to the Department of Energy. It is a joint venture among state-run PNOC Exploration Corporation, Mitra Energy Ltd (now Jadestone Energy Inc), and China National Offshore Oil Co (CNOOC), an oil company owned by the Chinese government.

It has been ready for President Rodrigo Duterte's signature since September 2017, according to the DOE.

Service Contract 57 was awarded to PNOC-EC by the DOE in September 2005 to "conduct petroleum exploration and development over a 720,000-hectare area in the Calamian area."

The area is located north of the Malampaya oil field and northwest of Palawan block, source of much of the country's oil.

The Calamian area lies beyond China's Nine-Dash Line, which it uses to claim virtually all of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. This means that the area covered by SC 57 is not being claimed by China and is thus not part of the Manila-Beijing maritime dispute.

SC 72

Service Contract 72, meanwhile, involves joint exploration in a block of Recto Bank (Reed Bank), which is also being claimed by China.

It was awarded to Forum Energy Plc, a subsidiary of Manuel Pangilinan-led Philex Petroleum Corporation.

In 2014, the Philippine government stopped all joint exploration and drilling surveys in Recto Bank as the administration of Benigno Aquino III filed a case against China with the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, Netherlands.

In 2016, the international court ruled in favor of the Philippines, declaring China's Nine-Dash Line invalid.

Dangers of joint development within disputed areas: Joint development in an area within China's Nine-Dash Line could be dangerous for the Philippines' claim to the West Philippine Sea.

Maritime expert Jay Batongbacal, in a GMA News article, said that allowing joint development in such an area could be seen as "inconsistent" with the arbitral ruling won by the Philippines.

"Any JD (joint development) agreement by the Philippines with China therefore will not be consistent with the Award, nor with UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)," he was quoted as saying.

"It can only be justified as a purely political accommodation, not a legally-warranted arrangement. However, if the Philippines makes the political accommodation, it can contradict its legal position as affirmed by the arbitration," he added. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Transportation network vehicle services (TNVS) franchise applications for leased-to-own cars will be processed but put under "certain provisions," the franchising regulatory board announced on Friday, March 2.

In a press briefing, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced that they will be processing TNVS applications for some 39,000 leased-to-own vehicles but previous billing accounts should be settled.

"Reminders to TNVS, your accounts should be current. We will not process if you have a [balance] of two months...You have a week to settle your accounts," LTFRB Board Member Aileen Lizada said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Franchise applications will be open on Monday, March 5.

What is the process? TNVS operators with leased-to-own vehicles under the Toyota Financial Services can apply for a franchise.

According to the LTFRB, operators will need to submit their account name and car loan number to their respective transportation network companies (TNC).

TNCs Grab and Uber will then submit these documents to the LTFRB, which will be submitted to Toyota Financial Services for comparison with their records.

Lizada said franchise applications for these vehicles will be accepted starting Monday, but will be processed after those with official receipts and certificates of registration (ORs/CRs).

"In this case, we are in talks with Toyota first but if there are other (loaning institutions) who will approach us, we will talk to them," Lizada said in a mix of English and Filipino.

What will happen on March 5? LTFRB will be processing franchise applications received until July 2017. (READ: LTFRB will not process new franchise applications for ride-hailing services)

TNVS operators applying for provisional authority (PA) will have to follow the application schedule provided by their TNCs and will need to bring the following:

• Verified application
• Proof of Filipino citizenship
• Government-issued ID with photo
• LTO OR/CR under the name of the applicant
• Operators data sheet

These are the steps for application at the LTFRB Central Office starting Monday:

• Step 1: Staff will verify if the applicant is on the database of scheduled operators to apply that day and if there was a previous application received by July 2017
• Step 2: An evaluator will check if the requirements are complete
• Step 3: A payment order slip will be given
• Step 4: Pay at the cashier. Release dates for PA and notice of hearing will be given after.

The LTFRB said they will not process applications with incomplete documents and not on schedule.

Temporary stickers will be provided once they receive their PA. Another sticker will be given after they are issued the Certificate of Public Convenience.

The LTFRB set a cap for TNVS applications to 66,750 units.– Rappler.com

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Mindanao’s socioeconomic planning body is seeking a P1.35-trillion budget for the region for 2019 to 2022 to help fulfill its goal of an average annual growth of 7% to 8%.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Chairman Datu Abul Khayr Alonto bared the plan on Friday, March 2. 

Alonto explained that the budget is needed “to catch up with the Dutertenomics target of boosting the island-region’s economy” which was allocated P416 billion or 12% of the country’s budget in 2017.

Included in the proposed budget are projects that MinDA marked as priority programs which include the following:

• Mindanao-wide land transport connectivity
• Mindanao gateways
• Trans-Mindanao high-speed railway system

The 3 projects comprise the Mindanao Development Corridors, which also includes the Bangsamoro Development Corridor, Alonto said.

Also included in the proposal are the following “catalytic” projects for Mindanao:

• Tawi-Tawi Freeport and Economic Zone
• Picong (Lanao del Sur) Freeport, Airport and Industrial Estate
• Next segments of the Trans-Mindanao HighSpeed Railway Project
• Establishment of Agri-Economic Cooperative Zones in the Bangsamoro area

Alonto earlier discussed the plan during a press conference in Zamboanga City, after a meeting with officials of the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

Alonto had said that it was high time for the agency to seek a bigger budget, given that President Rodrigo Duterte hailed from Mindanao himself.

In the House of Representatives, Mindanao Affairs Committee chair Maximo Rodriguez, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Representative, said he will conduct subsequent hearings with the Department of Budget and Management, DOTr, and DPWH to get support for the proposed budget.

With an increased budget, the region could attain austainable development, a proposition also supported by a World Bank study, said Alonto.

Four of the top 5 poorest regions in the Philippines are in Mindanao, according to data from the 2015 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The FIES is held every 3 years. (READ: FAST FACTS: Poverty in Mindanao)

These are Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula), Region X (Northern Mindanao), Region XII (Soccsksargen), Region XIII (Caraga), and the ARMM. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Transportation network vehicle services (TNVS) franchise applications for lease-to-own cars will be processed but put under "certain provisions," the franchising regulatory board announced on Friday, March 2.

In a press briefing, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced that they will be processing TNVS applications for some 39,000 lease-to-own vehicles but previous billing accounts should be settled.

"Reminders to TNVS, your accounts should be current. We will not process if you have a [balance] of two months...You have a week to settle your accounts," LTFRB Board Member Aileen Lizada said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Franchise applications will be open on Monday, March 5.

What is the process? TNVS operators with lease-to-own vehicles under the Toyota Financial Services can apply for a franchise.

According to the LTFRB, operators will need to submit their account name and car loan number to their respective transportation network companies (TNC).

TNCs Grab and Uber will then submit these documents to the LTFRB, which will be submitted to Toyota Financial Services for comparison with their records.

Lizada said franchise applications for these vehicles will be accepted starting Monday, but will be processed after those with official receipts and certificates of registration (ORs/CRs).

An OR/CR under the operators' name is part of the requirements for TNVS franchise applications. The LTFRB held talks with loaning institutions so that the ORs/CRs of the vehicle will be released under the name of the operator, and not under the bank or institution that handles the loan.

"In this case, we are in talks with Toyota first but if there are other (loaning institutions) who will approach us, we will talk to them," Lizada said in a mix of English and Filipino.

What will happen on March 5? LTFRB will be processing franchise applications received until July 2017. (READ: LTFRB will not process new franchise applications for ride-hailing services)

TNVS operators applying for provisional authority (PA) will have to follow the application schedule provided by their TNCs and will need to bring the following:

• Verified application
• Proof of Filipino citizenship
• Government-issued ID with photo
• LTO OR/CR under the name of the applicant
• Operators data sheet

These are the steps for application at the LTFRB Central Office starting Monday:

• Step 1: Staff will verify if the applicant is on the database of scheduled operators to apply that day and if there was a previous application received by July 2017
• Step 2: An evaluator will check if the requirements are complete
• Step 3: A payment order slip will be given
• Step 4: Pay at the cashier. Release dates for PA and notice of hearing will be given after.

The LTFRB said they will not process applications with incomplete documents and not on schedule.

Temporary stickers will be provided once they receive their PA. Another sticker will be given after they are issued the Certificate of Public Convenience.

The LTFRB set a cap for TNVS applications to 66,750 units.– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The University of the Philippines (UP), the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), and the De La Salle University (DLSU) joined the world's top universities in the recently released 2018 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject.

The results: There are 5 broad subject areas included in this year's rankings: Arts & Humanities, Engineering & Technology, Life Sciences & Medicine, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences and Management.

UP ranked in 4 out of 5 subjects, while AdMU and DLSU ranked in two subjects:

The QS said Harvard University ranked first for more subjects than any other institution, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Oxford.

The context: The QS called this year's ranking "the largest ranking of its kind," covering a total of 48 disciplines, including two new subjects: classics and ancient history, and library and information management.

"The QS World University Rankings by Subject are compiled annually to help prospective students identify the leading universities in a particular subject. Research citations, along with the results of major global surveys of employers and academics are used to rank universities," the QS said on its website.

Why university rankings matter: Some of the Philippines' top universities have been part of world and Asian university rankings for years. (READ: School rankings in ASEAN: A 'perception game' for PH)

In 2015, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said rankings of top universities "do not necessarily reflect their overall quality."

"But engagement in the rankings game is a key concern for CHED because university rankings shape an uncritical national and international public's perception of the quality of our institutions and are real in their consequences," CHED added.

Click here to check out the Philippine universties' rankings per specific subject. You can also read about the methodology here.– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – As the country celebrates National Women's Month this March, Malacañang defended the record of President Rodrigo Duterte in advancing women's rights and welfare.

Despite Duterte drawing flak for his misogynistic jokes, including an order to shoot female rebels in their vagina, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque insisted on Friday, March 2, that the President is "serious" about protecting the dignity of women.

"The President has been serious in advancing the lot of Filipino women in this country," Roque  said during a press conference in Paniqui, Tarlac, on Friday, March 2.

"The President does not promote violence against women," he added.

Roque again employed his usual defense of Duterte's controversial jokes about women.

"Let us not take the words of the President literally, but of course, we should take the President's word seriously," he said.

Roque had earlier described feminists as "OA"  (over-acting) and advised them to just laugh at Duterte's sexist jokes.

Actions, not words

To make a case for how Duterte has promoted women's rights, Roque listed down some pro-women policies the Chief Executive has implemented during his administration.

Among those mentioned was Duterte's Executive Order No 12 which ensures full government support for the implementation of the Reproductive Health law.

Duterte's recent ban on the deployment of  Filipino workers to Kuwait is also a pro-women initiative, said Roque, because it was borne out of concern for female Filipino workers abused by their employers in the Gulf country.

Roque cited Philippine National Police statistics that showed a drop in rape cases from 2016 to 2017.

"Rape, per Philippine National Police figures, has gone down by 13.53% to 8,114 in 2017, compared to 9,384 incidents in 2016," said Duterte's spokesman.

Roque also mentioned some pro-women programs implemented while Duterte was Davao City mayor, including dedicated police desks for domestic violence cases and local implementation of reproductive health policies. Read more about these policies here.

No unfair treatment of female critics?

Roque also addressed questions on Duterte's "unfair treatment" of his prominent female critics, such as Senator Leila de Lima, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, and Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

"It's not true they are experiencing unfair treatment," Roque said in Filipino.

In the case of De Lima, who earned Duterte's ire for investigating his drug war and the Davao Death Squad, Roque said she has yet to be declared guilty. De Lima has spent over a year in jail for alleged involvement in illegal drugs. (READ: De Lima: One year of living and surviving in jail)

"She was justice secretary for 6 years and chairman of the Commission on Human Rights for 3 years. She didn't do anything to fix our criminal justice system. Now, if she is having a hard time with the criminal justice system, she should blame herself," said Roque.

As to Sereno, Roque insisted Malacañang has nothing to do with bid to impeach her, saying those who had spoken out against the chief magistrate are her fellow justices.

'Culture of violence'

On the second day of Women's Month, various women's groups slammed Duterte for fostering a culture of violence against women.

"The Duterte administration has repeatedly disrespected the 1987 Constitution and Magna Carta of Women with his anti-women remarks which are always passed off as 'jokes.' These actions only show his deep-seated misogyny that further contributes to the normalization of sexual violence against women and girls," said Jelen Paclarin, Executive Director of Women's Legal and Human Rights Bureau. 

Lisa Garcia, Executive Director of Foundation for Media Alternatives (FMA), said that "misogyny is also about controlling and punishing women who challenge male dominance."

"This anti-women culture is very evident in our society wherein women who dare to be vocal are made fun of and insulted by people, and their opinions are disregarded by the President himself as he reduces them to mere body parts," Garcia said. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Human Rights on Friday, March 2, reminded the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte that the Philippine government should “obey lawful orders” if it wants to show the rule of law still prevails in the country.

“We are a nation of laws and we put premium on the rule of law as well as its primacy,” CHR Spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement. 

“We remind the government especially the security sector, that there is a need to show that the rule of law still prevails and the law requires them to obey lawful orders,” she added.

On Thursday, March 1, Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police to ignore the United Nations rapporteurs who will be sent to investigate human rights abuses under his administration, adding that they have no right to “interfere in the way I would run my country.”

This latest move by the administration has been criticized by critics as an indication it wants to evade responsibilities in relation to the high number of killings under the violent anti-drug campaign since July 2016. (READ: Drug war in 2017: The year of deaths and denials) 

Data from the government show that at least 3,987 individuals have been killed in anti-drug operations, while the number of those killed vigilante-style is still highly contested – with human rights groups estimating the figure could be more than 12,000. 

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano had previously said the Philippines will not allow Callamard to investigate because of her "bias and antagonistic stance” towards the government. It would want a different UN rapporteur to investigate, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. 

CHR, however, reminds the government that it is a signatory to various international treaties – such as being part of the UN Human Rights Council – which makes it “duty-bound” to certain guidelines and measures. This includes being open to investigations and cooperating with UN special rapporteurs and other experts. 

“In the end, it will ultimately redound to the benefit of the government if it is able to show its adherence to the rule of law, as there shall be no need for any intervention anymore,” De Guia said.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) previously told Rappler that the Philippines can be kicked out of the UN Human Rights Council if it does not fulfill its responsibilities.

“Membership comes with responsibilities,” HRW Geneva director John Fisher said. “The Philippines is expected to fulfill its membership obligations such as to uphold human rights standards and cooperate with UN mechanisms such as the Special Rapporteurs.” – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Responding to the Philippine government’s request, the European Union is set to modify the standard text of its future financial deals with the Philippines to avoid reiterating the condition on respect for human rights. (READ: Behind the scenes, PH scrambles to mend EU ties)

While the EU is still concerned about the extrajudicial killings, Stefano Manservisi, director-general for international cooperation at the EU Commission, said there is no need to repeat the human rights clause because the general framework of agreement (Partnership and Cooperation Agreement or PCA) between the EU and the Philippines already mentions that.

“We are advancing to finalize the text to make it even clear in light of the recently adopted PCA, to find the right way to be clear with this agreement, being equal in duties and rights... It's useless to say it again,” Manservisi said in a press conference on Friday, March 2.

“There is a standard text for the whole world. A standard text which is valid in assistance in the countries of Africa, the Pacific, Latin America. Therefore it is true there is a component of this which is a bit one-size-fits-all, which certainly is not suitable for countries in which we have agreement like the PCA. Therefore the request of the government is to align this to the PCA. Therefore we are working and modifying this condition,” he said.

Article I of the newly enforced PCA states that:

"Respect for democratic principles and human rights, as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and other relevant international human rights instruments to which the Parties are contracting parties, and for the principle of the rule of law, underpins the internal and international policies of both Parties and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement"

Asked if the move is meant to address President Rodrigo Duterte’s criticisms against the EU, he said they never intended to “intervene” in Philippine affairs. (READ: Wrong info leads Duterte to threaten EU diplomats)

“Well if you put that this way, I will say yes. Of course we have never had the intention nor the action to intervene into whatsoever...certainly not through the financial agreement,” Manservisi said.

“If on the other side, there is perception that the certain formulation is leading to this, therefore we stand ready to sit and to write in a way that is not creating concern but the substance remains the same,” he added.

No 'unilateral conditionality'

The development came as Duterte lambasted the EU for supposedly meddling in his bloody anti-drug campaign. The Philippines earlier rejected at least P380 million (6.1 million euros) in aid from the EU.

“There is no unilateral conditionality linked to our development assistance,” Manservisi said.

He also said this is not the first time that the EU modified the standard texts of its deals with other countries. It is, however, the first time the EU did that for the Philippines.

Manservisi is in the country to witness the PCA's official entry into force on Thursday. During his stay, he met with Special Envoy to the EU Edgardo Angara, Foreign Undersecretary Enrique Manalo, and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, a party mate of Duterte.

The EU has committed to provide P16.6 billion (260 million euros) in assistance until 2022 and has raised the possibility of providing P10.8 billion (170 million euros) more in the years to come. – Rappler.com

*1 euro = P63.73

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) set up a 12-person special investigating team to probe the ongoing environmental crisis in Boracay, and to file cases against government personnel and private individuals who might be held accountable for this.

“Sisiguraduhin naming mananagot ang dapat managot. Lahat ng may direktang kinalaman sa pag-iisyu ng permits sa mga lugar na hindi na dapat tayuan ng estruktura, pati na ang mga pribadong tao na ilegal na nagpapatakbo ng mga establisimyento at nakikipagkuntsaba sa mga opisyal ay hindi makakaligtas sa imbestigasyong ito," DILG Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año said in a media release on Friday, March 2.

(We will ensure all those who are responsible will answer for it. All with direct knowledge of the issuance of permits in places where structures should not have been built and those  private citizens who illegally ran establishments and were in cahoots with officials will not escape this invesitgation.)

DILG Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs Epimaco Densing III will chair the Boracay Investigating Team (BIT), while Senior Executive Assistant Jerry Loresco of the Office of the Undersecretary for Peace and Order, Public Safety and Policy and Programs will serve as vice chairperson.

Año said he instructed the team to look into how environmental fees collected by the government were used.

"Their investigation shall cover a period of 10 years, reckoning from year 2008 up to 2018.  I expect them to submit a comprehensive report on the result of their probe as soon as possible," he said.

In addition to representatives from the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Police Regional Office VI, other members of the committee are:

• Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) Director Odilon Pasaraba
• Legal and Legislative Liaison Service (LLLS) Director Romeo Benitez
• Trial and Investigation Division officer-in-charge Maria Elena Quebral
• BLGS Policy Compliance and Monitoring Division Chief Maria Rhodora R. Flores
• Frederick Lubuguin of the LLLS
• Benjamin Zabala of the Internal Affairs Service
• Richard Cruz of the Office of Project Development Services
• DILG Regional Director Anthony Nuyda Jr.

– Rappler.com

BERLIN, Germany – German police said Friday, March 2, they have arrested Andrei Kovalchuk, the alleged mastermind of a plot to smuggle cocaine to Russia from Moscow's embassy in Argentina.

"Berlin forces have arrested Mr Kovalchuk. He is now under police custody," said a police spokesman.

Prosecutors in Berlin said the 49-year-old Russian national was detained as part of an international investigation launched by Moscow.

"The allegation: founding of a criminal organisation with the aim of smuggling cocaine from Argentina to Russia," said the prosecutors on Twitter.

Argentine police said last week they had seized nearly 400 kilos (880 pounds) of cocaine worth some $62 million (50 million euros) hidden in suitcases in the Russian embassy school.

Russia's foreign ministry has said that the sting operation culminating in December was the result of a joint effort by the countries' law enforcement agencies. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT3) reached 9 days without glitches, the longest worry-free streak since the year opened.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade attributed this "luck" to the availability of spare parts delivered mid-February.

"These days, we are lucky because the spare parts needed have been delivered.... I hope this [improvement in services] continues," Tugade said in Filipino at a transportation summit on Thursday, March 1.

The improvement comes after the MRT3 suffered from its worst breakdown last week, on February 19, when there were no functioning trains for its quarter of a million passengers.

February saw only 11 glitches – 9 of which prompted passenger unloading while 2 were service interruptions. This is an improvement from the almost daily glitches in January at 27 recorded incidents.

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Ridership up

As the MRT3 management struggled to maintain 8 running trains, the glitch-free week saw an increase in passenger ridership.

From Monday, February 26 to Thursday, March 1, an average of some 270,000 passengers rode the MRT3 – higher than last week's figures of 230,000.

Monday saw an increase in trains, with the MRT3 running 9 trains by 8 am. The day ended with 283,312 passengers riding the railway system.

On Tuesday, February 27, the number of available trains went down to 7 when operations opened but the management was quick to put back another train by 8 am. When the day ended, Tuesday averaged 8 trains, serving some 281,000 passengers.

On Wednesday, February 28, only 6 trains were running at 6 am. By 7 am, 7 trains were operational. There were 8 running trains by 9 am but ridership went down to close to 262,000 passengers.

On Thursday, there were 8 operational trains for the most of the day but by 5 pm, the management was able to put out 9 trains that served 264,000 passengers.

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Promises

Despite maintaining 8 running trains when the month of February closed, it's still lower than half of the 20 trains in operation in 2017.

Tugade said on Thursday that the department is keen on delivering on its promises of better MRT3 services. He said that by April, there should be 15 running trains for the public to use.

Full rehabilitation of the MRT3 railway system will be done between March 28 and March 31. 

As the deadlines set by the department draws to a close, the Transportation Secretary sought for public understanding in case these were not met.

"Huwag niyo naman kaming sumbatan kung hindi mangyari. Fifteen by Holy Week sana...'Pag hindi na-achieve, tulungan niyo lang kami," he told reporters.

(Don't lash out at us if it (the targets) was not achieved. We're targetting 15 trains hopefully by Holy Week. If we don't achieve it, just help us.)

In January, German-based TUV Rheinland was tapped to evaluate the "overweight" 48 trains delivered by China-based CRRC Dalian Company Limited. The assessment, due March 10, will determine whether these trains are safe for the public to use.

Earlier this February, engineers from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) began a system audit of the MRT3. JICA is expected to release a report on the restoration works needed for the railway system.

The number of trains was drastically decreased after the MRT3 Maintenance Transition Team took over, as trains and spare parts left by the former maintenance provider Busan Universal Rail Incorporated (BURI) was not in the right condition needed, the DOTr earlier said.

Since the start of 2018, the DOTr has recorded a total of 38 glitches. 

In 2017, there were 516 MRT3 glitches recorded – almost 10 incidents a week. (READ: MRT3 suffers almost daily breakdowns since start of 2018) – Rappler.com

PARIS, France –  A thriving hotspot of some 1.5 million Adelie penguins has been discovered on the remote Danger Islands in the east Antarctic, surprised scientists announced Friday.

Just 160 kilometers (100 miles) away in the west Antarctic, the same species is in decline due to sea ice melt blamed on global warming, they said.

The first complete census revealed that the Danger Islands host more than 750,000 breeding pairs of Adelie penguins, more than the rest of the Antarctic Peninsula region combined, the team reported in the journal Scientific Reports.

It included the third and fourth-largest Adelie penguin colonies in the world.

The find "is certainly surprising and it has real consequences for how we manage this region," study co-author Heather Lynch of Stony Brook University told AFP.

The islands, which lie at the tip of Antarctica nearest South America, have rarely been visited, and the new discovery was thanks to Earth-monitoring satellites, the team from America, Britain and France, said.

"This is called the Danger Islands for a reason," explained Lynch.

"The area is covered by heavy sea ice most of the year, and even in the height of summer it is difficult to get into this region to do surveys."

'Very lucky'

Evidence of the previously-unknown penguin colony first emerged in data from the Landsat Earth-monitoring satellites run by NASA and the US Geological Survey.

Lynch and her team "then went and looked at higher resolution commercial imagery to confirm the guano staining that our algorithms had picked up in the Landsat imagery," she said.

When the Landsat data originally suggested the presence of hundreds of thousands of penguins on the islands, she thought it "was a mistake". 

"We were surprised to find so many penguins on these islands, especially because some of these islands were not known to have penguins."

Then followed a field expedition for a headcount.

"We were... very lucky to have a window of time where the sea ice moved out and we could get a yacht in," said Lynch.

The Danger Islands, said the team, has felt the ravages of climate change less than western Antarctic zones, and knew very little human activity.

But it may need protection from overfishing nevertheless. Krill, an Adelie staple, is caught in the area.

"The most important implication of this work is related to the design of Marine Protected Areas in the region," said Lynch.

"Now that we know this tiny island group is so important, it can be considered for further protection from fishing." – Rappler.com

BAKU, Azerbaijan – Twenty-five people perished in a fire which tore through a drug rehabilitation clinic in the Azerbaijani capital Baku early Friday, March 2, with activists saying safety standards had not been met.

Video footage broadcast on local television showed huge flames leaping through barred windows of a one-storey wooden hospital ward.

It took some 3 hours for 10 squads of firefighters and rescuers from the emergencies ministry to extinguish the blaze, the APA news agency reported. 

President Ilham Aliyev, who went to the scene, has set up a governmental commission to probe the cause of the blaze and ordered financial aid to be allocated for the families of the victims, his office said. 

"At 06:10 am a fire broke out at the Republican Narcological Center in Baku," the General prosecutor's Office, the health, interior and emergencies ministries said in a joint statement.

"According to the latest data, 25 people died in the fire," said the updated statement, which initially put the death toll at 24.

Four more people were hospitalised with serious burns, the statement said, citing a power grid defect as the initial cause of the blaze.

More than 200 patients and medical staff were evacuated unharmed, the statement added.

'Systemic corruption'

The General Prosecutor's office said it has launched a criminal investigation over alleged violation of fire safety norms.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent condolences to his Azerbaijani counterpart, according to the Kremlin's website.

Civil activists blamed official corruption and the failure to respect safety regulations as the factor causing large numbers of casualties in increasingly frequent fires in Azerbaijan.

"Fire safety regulations were not respected in the hospital's Soviet-era wooden building," the head of the "Property Rights" civil advocacy group, Aitekin Imranova, told AFP.

"As a result of systemic corruption, an adequate control over the compliance with fire safety norms is not in place in Azerbaijan," she said.

Earlier Friday, APA reported that at least 30 people had perished in the blaze which it said broke out in a ward for bed-ridden patients.

The energy-rich, ex-Soviet Caucasus nation has a history of large-scale casualties as a result of fires in residential buildings and elsewhere.

In May 2015, 15 people – including 5 minors – died in a fire in a multi-storey building in Baku.

In October 1995, 289 people died in a metro fire in the capital, in the world's deadliest subway disaster that was caused by outdated Soviet equipment.

Rights groups have long accused the government of authoritarian President Aliyev of widespread corruption that undermines functioning of state institutions. – Rappler.com